Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices [Turtleback]

Paul Fleischman (Author)

Product Details

• Turtleback
• Publisher: Demco Media (September 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606010750
• ISBN-13: 978-0606010757
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,993,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul Fleischman grew up in Santa Monica, California, the son of children's book author Sid Fleischman. Drawing on history, music, art, and theater, his books have often experimented with multiple viewpoints and performance. He received the Newbery Medal in 1989 for JOYFUL NOISE: POEMS FOR TWO VOICES, a Newbery Honor Award for GRAVEN IMAGES, the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for BULL RUN, and was a National Book Award finalist for BREAKOUT. He lives on the central coast of California.

For more information, visit paulfleischman.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two readers., September 18, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices (Paperback)

A human.

..........A bug.

Quite different,we two

..........Quite different,we two,

but now here we are

..........with a book to review.

"Joyful Noise"

..........as it's called,

is a beautiful book.

..........Whether human or insect, it's sure worth a look.

Two voices, aloud, join in poems like these:

..........a story of booklice, and one about bees.

So get with a friend and find out the joys that come out of making

..........A JOYFUL NOISE!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing poetry, May 6, 2000

By 

Liyet - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices (Paperback)

Here are fourteen poems about, of all things, bugs. Some may wonder at the subject matter; some may be disgusted. By the time you're done reading them, however, I'm sure you'll no longer feel that way.

Speaking of fireflies, book lice, and honeybees, Fleischman shows the unique perspective of each. At times his poems are hilarious, with the worker ant complaining in time to the languid satisfaction of the queen; some are poignant enough to touch your heart and make you think twice about that caterpillar you shuddered at the other day.

What makes these poems truly wonderful, however, is the fact that they are "for two voices". For full effect, they *must* be read aloud by two people, sometimes in chorus, sometimes speaking alone, and other times echoing each other. In such a manner, the already-delightful poetry becomes alive.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An original idea, December 21, 2003

By 

E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices (Paperback)

These poems about the lives of different insects are meant to be read by two voices, thereby mimicking the sounds or characteristics of those bugs. The book works rather well, especially the whirligig beetle poem. Appearing in bookstores nation wide in 1992, I remember being given this book at the age of 10 from my mother. At that particular age I was not interested in participating in a picture book, clearly designed for younger students. Had I received it at a younger age I think I would have liked it more. I would recommend presenting this book to a group of students, having them perform it together. That would be the best use of this singular text.